Bob Grenier of the Historical Society responds to criticisms

Sunday

TAVARES — Bob Grenier has been a key figure — and a target, he says — in the debate about a statue of a Confederate general coming to the county museum.

Grenier, the curator of the Lake County Historical Society, won the bid last year to house a statue of Edmund Kirby Smith, who’s coming to Florida from the National Statuary Hall.

Thrilled with the acquisition, Grenier, also the society’s president, has repeatedly referred to the statue a “national treasure.” His critics, on the other hand, haven’t seen it that way.

The society’s membership recently ballooned with new members both for and against the statue coming, from about 100 to more than 400. And last week’s membership meeting, where leadership was elected, was contentious. The society announced a recent change in the bylaws that would only allow members who have been in the society for two or more years serve as president and vice president.

It was a surprise to many of the new members and was met with boos and chants. “Shame, shame, shame,” some yelled.

Ultimately Grenier was re-elected. In an interview, Grenier talked about Kirby Smith coming, and responded to some of the criticisms he’s received because of it.

Q: Tuesday’s meeting got rowdy at times. Do you think that was personal?

A: Yes, absolutely. I was the target, and I felt that my people were bullied. I didn’t deserve that and they certainly didn’t deserve that.

Q: Anti-statue members have joined the society and accused it of “stacking the deck” against them. How would you respond to that?

A: Making a statement like that — it’s clear their intentions are to simply censor museums. They wanted to take over. If everyone loves history and loves museums, we should be on the same page, no deck.

Q: Kirby Smith was born in St. Augustine. Many say that he has no ties here. Is that an accurate statement?

A: No, it’s inaccurate. Here’s one: It was 1824 when he was born. If you look at a map of Florida from 1824, Lake County didn’t exist. It was St. Johns County then. He was born in St. Augustine, which is still in St. Johns. That’s a connection.

Q: Any others?

A: Lacy Day Edge served in the Florida Legislature during the time they were deciding who to send to the statuary hall. It ended up being Florida’s most distinguished solider, Edmund Kirby Smith. (Edge) was the founder and first president of the Lake County Historical Society.

Q: Do you think you’ll find more?

A: I’ll find all kinds of ties, thousands of ties. I’m working on a report (for the Lake County Commission) and all of those things will be in there. He served in the Federal Army and the Confederate Army. How do we know he didn’t come down here for reunions? I bet I’ll find a picture of him fishing here — this area was all nature. Those are the things I’m looking into.

Q: And those things will be included in the exhibit?

A: Absolutely. There’s going to be a big binder.

Q: What will that exhibit look like?

A: It will be in the proper context, balanced. He won’t be in the rotunda. I respect the sensitivity of the issue so I’ll be placing it in one of our galleries. I’m going to include information about Kirby Smith, the statue sculptor C. Adrian Pillars, information about Mary McLeod Bethune since she’s replacing him, and that sculptor.

Q: You mentioned balance. You’ll have a Groveland Four memorial in front of the museum soon. How do you feel about that?

A: I’m happy with a memorial, and I love the historical aspect of it. They are not forgotten and we tell their story inside. (There already is a Groveland Four exhibit in the museum.) And in gallery five, we’re going to have an African-American history gallery. We’ll have exhibits on civil rights, the Black Seminoles, achievements of African Americans in Lake County, spotlighting and highlighting them.

Q: What is your response to those who are upset at the idea of the statue being here?

A: Even more of a reason to bring him here and educate. The exhibit will tell the story of the statue right there. We can include the opposition to it and people’s feelings. Why not build a bridge by telling this story?

Q: Many of your new members are opposed to the statue coming. Will you try to find middle ground with them?

A: I have tried and it hasn’t worked. I feel like they have tunnel vision in that they don’t want the statue. But I’ll continue to try.

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